Through the Seasons with Megan Gilger

Slowing Down

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:00:34 GMT

Friends you can find me at megangilger.substack.com while I take a break for a bit.

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5 Ways To Tend to Yourself In January

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:00:18 GMT

You can check out the newsletter this week over at my Substack at megangilger.substack.com

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Dreamlike Thoughts

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 11:00:24 GMT

You can read more in the newsletter this week at megangilger.substack.com

If you want to do some gardening courses you can find them all at learn.freshexchange.com

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Welcoming Winter + Rising to the Light

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:45:33 GMT

You can check out the newsletter by heading to megangilger.substack.com. All of the newsletters are there for you :)

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An Ode to the Alliums

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 13:35:31 GMT

You can read everything I mentioned today in our Friday newsletter and more by heading to megangilger.substack.com

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Gliding into December

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:54:54 GMT

This podcast correlates with my weekly Friday newsletter, where my reflection is also located for your reading!

You can see all the newsletters and sign up for them to come to your inbox by heading to megangilger.substack.com

Enjoy, and I hope to see you more in your inbox this winter.

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On Hibernation

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 13:00:15 GMT

You can get more in the newsletter today on my Substack, which is free.

megangilger.substack.com

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How to Heal

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 22:21:46 GMT

This week on my newsletter you can read more about being intune with the seasons in self and nature. Just head to

megangilger.substack.com

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Celebrating the Endings

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:38:52 GMT

Subscribe to the free newsletter by heading to megangilger.substack.com

You will get a free newsletter every Friday in your inbox. Dive in for more anytime about the seasons.

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We can have Autumns

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 16:12:23 GMT

This episode is part of my Free Friday newsletter on my Subtack, Through the Seasons with Megan Gilger.

Head there to get even more out of this episode and vice versa! Subscribe for free or jump in as a paid subscriber using this code.

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Six Months Ago - Where were we...

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 16:08:04 GMT

If you love today's podcast, I have a substack now, and it's named after the podcast now too.

Head to megangilger.substack.com to sign up for my weekly free newsletter or jump in for more as a paid member. There is actually a discount for a membership in today's newsletter. Hint hint.

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On the Late Bloomers

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 10:00:35 GMT

Every week on Through the Seasons with Megan Gilger, I share reflections and thoughts on what it is to pay attention to nature and self side by side.

You can learn more on my substack and join anytime. The Friday newsletter is ALWAYS free. Enjoy!

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The rising of the harvest moon

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:00:00 GMT

This week on Through the Seasons with Megan Gilger, we are discussing the supermoon and how the harvest moon begins the shift of the seasons. This moon will be helpful in watching and observing things around you and yourself. Megan offers some tips and reads a reflection on the intention of the harvest moon.

Read more and subscribe by heading to megangilger.substack.com

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This is a Big Change ---> Here's the Story

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 10:00:34 GMT

I am so excited to share this story and shift that is headed to all of your inboxes. This has been a dream sitting on the shelf, waiting to find the place and space. Well, now is that time.

Throughout the season of Fall, I will be shedding the past work of Fresh Exchange and shifting it to be titled around Megan Gilger instead. My days of teaching gardening will only look different now.

I, instead, will be helping you navigate the connection between self and nature by paying attention to the shifts and changes through the seasons. I will give you practical and applicable insight into how to listen and apply these lessons from nature to guide life in a way that suits anyone, no matter where you live.

You can join my Substack, Through the Seasons, by heading to megangilger.substack.com to receive my free weekly newsletter to support your journey and receive a discount on your first year-long subscription. These first paid subscribers are the most critical to this new chapter of my career, so I hope you jump in and check it out.

Thank you so much for your support. If you are a community member, please check the community post in the announcements to get your discount to enjoy a year free because of your past support.

You can read the story I mention from TC mag in this feature: https://mynorth.com/2023/07/liberate-your-landscape-with-fresh-exchange-in-traverse-city/

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Garden Planning - How To Create A Plan To Bring Your Design To Life

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 11:09:43 GMT

Your garden is designed, but where do you even begin!?! Such a big question, in this podcast episode Megan Gilger of Fresh Exchange shares how to build a great planting plan that will easily help you bring your design to fruition this spring and summer.

Join our online community anytime at:

community.freshexchange.com

Access the Beginner Gardener Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/beginner-garden-course/

Take the FREE Herb Garden Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/herb-garden-course/

Attend one of the FREE workshops:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/free-monthly-webinars/?sort=asc

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Garden Planning - How To Design for Crop Rotations

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:44:13 GMT

Do you ever feel overwhelmed when starting a garden project? With so many options, it can be hard to create the perfect design. Don’t worry - we have the perfect solution! Megan Gilger has the best question to ask to lead your garden planning.

Join our online community anytime at:

community.freshexchange.com

Access the Beginner Gardener Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/beginner-garden-course/

Take the FREE Herb Garden Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/herb-garden-course/

Attend one of the FREE workshops:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/free-monthly-webinars/?sort=asc

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Garden Planning: How to Understand Light

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:54:52 GMT

Understanding light in your garden in the middle of winter is hard. In this episode I explain how to truly understand the sun's position to better your garden position and help your planning for summer.

Join our online community anytime at:

community.freshexchange.com

Access the Beginner Gardener Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/beginner-garden-course/

Take the FREE Herb Garden Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/herb-garden-course/

Attend one of the FREE workshops:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/free-monthly-webinars/?sort=asc

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Friday Meditation - Putting Pen to Paper

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 11:00:33 GMT

Join our online community anytime at:

community.freshexchange.com

Access the Beginner Gardener Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/beginner-garden-course/

Take the FREE Herb Garden Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/herb-garden-course/

Attend one of the FREE workshops:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/free-monthly-webinars/?sort=asc

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Garden Planning - This Is The Most Important Question To Begin Your Design

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 15:04:59 GMT

Join our online community anytime at:

community.freshexchange.com

Access the Beginner Gardener Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/beginner-garden-course/

Take the FREE Herb Garden Course:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/herb-garden-course/

Attend one of the FREE workshops:

https://community.freshexchange.com/c/free-monthly-webinars/?sort=asc

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Welcoming 2023 - Celebrating the Beginner in All Of Us

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 19:18:54 GMT

Are you a beginner gardener looking for a way to learn the basics and connect with a supportive online community?

Our beginner gardener course has launched! You get a detailed overview of the basics of growing plants organically, and you'll have access to free workshops and events to help you perfect your skills. Plus, get a free herb garden course when you check it out now!

In this episode, I explain how to check out our community and connect and grow with us. There are free ways to check things out, from workshops to courses that you can enjoy now. If you decide to connect with our community further and take the course. Getting an all-access pass begins at just $84 for three months.

Head to community.freshexchange.com

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Setting Ourselves Up to Grow in 2023

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 18:27:11 GMT

If you want to join in on the February Garden Planning Intensive and access the Beginner Gardener Online Course to get you refreshed and ready for a new gardening season ahead, I would suggest becoming a member now to lock in the price before it is updated in 2023.

Head to freshexchange.com/join today to secure your pricing for 2023 and beyond.

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Friday Meditation - The Pruning

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 11:00:54 GMT

Join now as a member to receive the meditations in your inbox with coordinating journal prompts. freshexchange.com/join

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Reflecting On Life and The Year

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 11:00:33 GMT

You can join the email newsletter in prep for what I will start sharing in 2023

freshexchange.com/subscribe

Or if you are feeling ready you can join the online community now before the pricing goes up in 2023

freshexchange.com/join

See you over there, friends!

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Friday Meditation - Endings As Beginnings

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 11:00:14 GMT

Join now as a member to receive the meditations in your inbox with coordinating journal prompts. freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation - Dancing with The End

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 10:00:25 GMT

You can get these meditations in your inbox with coordinating journal prompts each week as a member of our online community. Join now at freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: The Story in The Leaves

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 10:00:16 GMT

You can continue to get more out of these meditations by becoming a Community member anytime. For as little as $13 a month you can join and receive the meditations right to your inbox while gaining knowledge on gardening and seasonal living alongside a community of growth mindset people. You also receive coordinating journal prompts for every meditation that only community members get.

Join now! freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: Never Pass This Way Again

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 10:00:24 GMT

Join now! freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: Suspended In Time

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:00:10 GMT

Join now! freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: The Frost

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:20:14 GMT

Join now! freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation - The Shift

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:00:16 GMT

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Friday Meditation - Fading Into New Life

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:00:23 GMT

You can continue to get more out of these meditations by becoming a Community member anytime. For as little as $13 a month you can join and receive the meditations right to your inbox, while gaining knowledge on gardening and seasonal living alongside a community of growth mindset people. You also receive coordinating journal prompts for every meditation that only community members get.

Join now! freshexchange.com/join

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The Top Lessons From My Summer Garden

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 16:45:09 GMT

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear other community members' lessons they have harvested from their gardens, you can join our community at any time for just $13 a month by heading to freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: The Harvest Moon

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:59:18 GMT

You can continue to get more out of these meditations by becoming a Community member anytime. For as little as $13 a month you can join and receive the meditations right to your inbox, while gaining knowledge on gardening and seasonal living alongside a community of growth mindset people. You also receive coordinating journal prompts for every meditation that only community members get.

Join now! freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation - The Weeds

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 10:00:15 GMT

You can always dive deeper into the weekly meditations by joining as a member of the online community. This will deliver the written meditation to your inbox each week with coordinating journal prompts as well as access to connect with other gardeners that are curiously learning together while connecting more deeply with themselves.

freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: The Gift of the Tomatillos

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:00:23 GMT

freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: Wafting Memories

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 10:00:32 GMT

freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: Lake Street

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 10:00:21 GMT

You can get more from these meditations by becoming a community member. Members receive the meditations in their inbox every Friday, along with journal prompts and community interaction.

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Friday Meditation: Perfect Timing

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 19:24:06 GMT

You can get the meditations and journal prompts straight to your inbox every Friday by joining the online community any time for as low as $13 a month. Join here: www.freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation - The Answers Amongst The Chamomile

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 10:00:56 GMT

Want more from the meditations? You can get them and coordinating journal prompts by joining our online community at any time that is right for you.

www.freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation - Alongside Her

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 10:00:59 GMT

You can receive the written meditations and supporting journal prompts right to your inbox by becoming a member in our online community at any time.

freshexchange.com/join

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Everything You EVER Wanted to Know About Garlic!

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 10:00:43 GMT

Everything from harvesting to growing and even how to save it! I also share what I just planted where my garlic was and how I ensured the soil was ready for another round of planting this summer.

Learn more in our online community by heading to freshexchange.com/join

Want to learn how to braid garlic? Here is my post about it

You can also listen to my podcast episode about intuition right here.

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Friday Meditation - I Am The Garden

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 18:04:12 GMT

You can dive deeper into the meditations and receive them each week in your inbox by becoming a community member.

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When To Begin Fall Planting In The Garden?

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 10:00:31 GMT

Sign up ANYTIME for the online community to connect with an amazing group of like-minded gardeners looking to grow and connect around the concept of growing our gardens and ourselves each season.

www.freshexchange.com/join

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Friday Meditation: Like the Bean

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 18:47:58 GMT

Want to get more out of your Friday Meditations? Would you like them delivered to your inbox? Join the community now to get them every Friday along with coordinating journal prompts and community discussion.

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Friday Meditation: I Am Here Right Now

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 10:00:19 GMT

Sign up ANYTIME for the online community to connect with an amazing group of like-minded gardeners looking to grow and connect around the concept of growing our gardens and ourselves each season.

www.freshexchange.com/join

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What I Am Planting Right Now In The Garden

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 17:24:40 GMT

So many things can be planted still in the garden. Don't think you are one and done out there. You can always seed more!

If you want the link to the Calendula Oil Recipe Reel you can see it here.

Sign up ANYTIME for the online community to connect with an amazing group of like-minded gardeners looking to grow and connect around the concept of growing our gardens and self each season.

www.freshexchange.com/join

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How I Learned to Trust My Intuition in Gardening

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:24:39 GMT

Looking to get a little more support through growing your intuition? Join our online community anytime you are ready to jump in to get access to past and upcoming videos that will build your knowledge and confidence.

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Friday meditation - The Unexpected

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 10:00:41 GMT

Do you love the meditations? Don't forget you get journal prompts that coordinate with the meditations if you are a member of the online community.

www.freshexchange.com/join to learn more!

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My Sure Way of Avoiding Squash Vine Borers

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 10:00:48 GMT

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Let's Make Fertilizing More Straightforward

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:57:09 GMT

Want to dive deeper? You can join the online community for less than $13 a month. Find the plan that is right for you to join our supportive community to help you grow in your garden this spring and summer.

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Local Eating - Let's Talk Numbers and Cost

Wed, 25 May 2022 10:00:17 GMT

If you loved this convo and want to dive deeper, head to freshexchange.com/join to get access to the online community where we dive deep on all these topics every week.

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Friday Meditation - The Steward

Fri, 20 May 2022 10:00:35 GMT

If you would like to enjoy more from these meditations, you can join our online community where there are journal prompts and more.

https://freshexchange.com/join/

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Local Eating: Planning Meals and Rethinking Routines

Wed, 18 May 2022 10:00:33 GMT

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Friday Meditation: Rebirth

Fri, 13 May 2022 10:00:33 GMT

Want more from the meditations? Head to our Community page to learn about joining our membership.

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Local Eating: Why We Need to Rethink Self-Sufficiency and Look to Community Sufficiency

Wed, 11 May 2022 10:00:58 GMT

Want more about this idea? You can join more of the conversation now by joining our online community.

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Friday Meditation - The Moon and Her Movement

Fri, 06 May 2022 17:00:02 GMT

You can get more from these meditations by joining our online community to access journal prompts that coordinate and more.

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Local Eating Series: The Easiest Way to Eat Local and In Season

Wed, 04 May 2022 10:00:01 GMT

Local eating is a powerful way to impact your body, the culture around us, our planet, and our community locally and around the world. To me, it is one of the most powerful ways we can change the course of the planet.

This whole series will be about this. I hope you enjoy this this month.

Past Podcast episodes to listen to:

Seasonal Eating: What, Why, How

Local Eating: Interview with Andrea Bemis

Tips for Eating Close to Home During the Holidays

Books to Read:

Local Dirt

We Are What We Eat

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Six Seasons

Ruffage

Love and Lemons

Love and Lemons Everyday

Blog Posts to Help:

What is Seasonal Eating

Best Seasonal Cookbooks

5 Simple and Affordable Ways to Eat Local

What is a CSA?

More Resources

Seasonal Food Guide

Fresh Exchange Community

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Friday Meditation - Holding On

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:00:15 GMT

You can get more from these meditations by becoming a member of our online community where you get access to to journal prompts and more!

https://freshexchange.com/join/

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Top Tips for Gardening with Kids

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 10:00:12 GMT

Gardening with kids can be quite fun, but it is key to make sure you aren't trying to get too much out of the experience and relax through it all. Leave space for things to be imperfect!

Books I suggest for kids to learn about gardening:

In The Garden

The Curious Garden

Up In the Garden Down in the Dirt

Green Green

How Does My Garden Grow

Gardens Are For Growing

My First Book of Growing Food

The other podcast about gardening and kids I did last year

Why you need to plant a garden with your kids

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Let's Rethink Materials for Raised Beds

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 10:00:12 GMT

What materials are you planning for raised beds? Are you deterred to grow a garden because of costs? I am helping you rethink this today.

We are talking even more about this in the community so if you want to dig in further, join us!

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Friday Meditation - The Hardest Part

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 10:00:57 GMT

If you want more out of the meditations, you can join our online community any time now.

Head to freshexchange.com/join to learn about memberships and how these meditations take on a whole deeper level there in our community.

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A Case Against Seed Starting

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 10:00:23 GMT

I never want you guys to have something that stands in your way of gardening. One of these I realize for people is believing they have to seed start. Toss it out the window! You can do it differently. In this episode, I tell you why people should seed start, but then share how you can skip it altogether or completely rethink it.

Join the community to learn more about the tips and tricks members are sharing every week.

Check out this month's sponsor: Pulsar Cider from Starcut Cider's

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Friday Meditation - The Process

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 10:00:23 GMT

Everything has its timing. Make sure you pay close attention to your own.

Join the community to get further journal prompts and more!

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How to Grow Great Tomatoes This Year - My Best Tips

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 10:00:12 GMT

Yes, you can grow great tomatoes. It takes time, and some information, but it doesn't have to be complicated. In this episode, I describe the best tips I have learned over the years.

Learn more about Companion Planting for Tomato Plants:

https://freshexchange.com/best-tomato-companion-plants/

Learn more about Pruning Tomato Plants:

https://freshexchange.com/prune-tomato-plants/

Join our community now so you don't miss our Tomato Event:

https://freshexchange.com/join/

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsor this month Starcut Ciders and their Pulsar Dry Cider made and sourced here in Michigan.

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Friday Meditation - Beginning

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:00:24 GMT

You can learn more about our meditations in our online community by heading to our join page.

You can now join the community whenever you would like!

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The Mighty Grow Bag

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 10:00:41 GMT

The grow bag may just be one of the most underrated options for growing in the garden. Seriously. Today I am going to share with you the reasons why you should use them, how to fill them, and what I suggest you grow in them.

You can find the grow bags I suggest by going here to check them out.

If you want to learn more about sponsor this month you can learn more at starcutciders.com

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Friday Meditation - Conversation with the Woods

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 10:00:24 GMT

You can now become a community member and get even more from our meditations - Head here to learn more!

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How to Schedule Your Plantings This Year in the Garden

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 10:00:17 GMT

Yes, it is true! Don't get fooled or fall prey to comparing your garden to what other people are doing. Trust me here. This is what you need to know to schedule your garden properly this year.

Want to Join the Community? We would love to have you. Check out the new options for joining this year.

Want to dig deeper to understand planning and designing your garden this year? You can check out the Simple Garden Planning E-Course.

Or just snag the Ultimate Gardening Planning Tool Kit to get all sorts of great tools for creating your best garden yet this year.

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What I have Learned 1 Year into our Online Community

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 10:00:47 GMT

It has been 1 whole year since we launched the community and I am beyond amazed at how this project has brought joy and excitement into our lives. But we have some changes as all great projects go. We are updating things and if you are ready to enjoy the new offerings, you can head to our Join page today and join our community!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

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Friday Meditation - The Tenderness of Beginning

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 10:00:54 GMT

Spring is nearly here, but don't rush this process. Be slow. Take time. Allow space for tenderness.

Join our community to get even more from your Friday Meditations

https://freshexchange.com/join/

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How to Determine What to Grow in Your Garden

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 10:00:44 GMT

Here is the very simple system I use for determining what to grow in my garden. This is high level but if you want to learn more about how I think through all of this, you can check out more through the links below and get more resources.

Simple Garden Planning E-Course

This course goes in-depth on how to plan and design your best garden and can be used for years to come with all the resources and teachings directly from me.

Ultimate Garden Planning Tool Kit

This is the handbook to the E-course with just the resources and without the teachings from me. It includes all the things I referenced today.

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Friday Meditation - The Dance

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 11:00:43 GMT

Happy Friday...enjoy this short podcast all about the pushing and pulling of the seasons. Winter and Spring now begin their dance and we get a chance to observe it so we can learn.

Don't forget our community open soon! Check it out at: https://freshexchange.com/join/

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Companion Planting - Let's Problem Solve

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 11:00:39 GMT

Have you had issues with squash vine borers, mice, Japanese beetles, powdery mildew? I got you covered with all sorts of ways to naturally deter these issues and create environments that are not conducive to these being destructive things in your garden this year. The secret? Companion planting! Let's learn more.

Past Companion Planting Podcasts:

How to Use Companion Planting in Your Garden

What is Companion Planting

The History of Companion Planting

Why You Should Use Companion Planting in Your Garden

Join the community this Spring! Learn more here

Want to learn about integrating these plants and more, check out my new Garden Planning E-Course

Or! Get all the tools without the lessons by buying the Ultimate Garden Planning Tool Kit

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Friday Meditation - Receding Snow

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 18:13:00 GMT

This Mid-winter has been intense. But out of every storm, there can be new life. May we always be looking for ways to heal the losses and gain new directions and perspectives that bring us strength and empathy for the cross-section of pain and beauty in our lives.

Our online community is opening up this month! Sign up to be the first to learn more

https://freshexchange.com/join/

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Companion Planting: How to Use It?

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 11:00:23 GMT

Companion Planting is a super powerful tool in the garden for those looking to grow things without lots of weeds, no pesticides, and more. Today I share how you can use it in your garden.

Check out the E-Course

Check out the Tool Kit with the Expanded Companion Planting Chart and Multiple Garden Designs

Join the newsletter to learn more about Companion Planting

Check out this blog post for showing Companion Plants for Tomatoes

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Friday Meditation - The Full Moon

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 19:18:06 GMT

A little different meditation for your Friday.

Enjoy this honest conversation about where I have been mentally the last few weeks.

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The History of Companion Planting

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 11:00:27 GMT

Companion planting has been around since humans started domesticating plants. In fact it is how we have the plants we now have in our gardens. It is is amazing and incredible if we are being honest. I stuff it in quick here but hit the best and most important high points, but even with extensive research there is a lot of holes in the history particularly during the American slave trade.

I hope this is interesting and brings you further into how companion planting is a powerful tool in the garden.

If you want to learn more about using companion planting in your garden, you can check out the new Garden Planning E-course from me or check out the Ultimate Garden Planning Tool Kit to give you lots of tools to help you plan your garden even if you don't feel you need the full e-course.

Learn more about the resources for growing an amazing garden on our Learn page.

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Friday Meditation - Fool's Spring

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 11:00:31 GMT

Winter has a lease on it. It will not last forever...what do you still have yet to rest, nourish, or heal this season?

Want to get more out of your meditations? Join our online community to take them one step further. Learn more on our Community page.

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Why Use Companion Planting In the Garden?

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:00:33 GMT

Avoid weeding. Skip the pesticides. You won't need it. Companion planting is a powerful method to solve a lot of issues. The best part, is it also helps you feed a healthy ecosystem. Let me explain!

Learn more about the E-course

https://learn.freshexchange.com/garden-planning-with-companion-planting-methods

Check out the Garden Planning Resources

https://learn.freshexchange.com/ultimate-garden-planning-tools

See how I used companion planting in a tomato bed.

https://freshexchange.com/best-tomato-companion-plants/

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Friday Meditation - Finding Myself Amongst the Trees

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 11:00:11 GMT

If you are interested in learning more about the connection between humans and trees here are a few of the books I mentioned:

Rooted

Finding the Mother Tree

Overstory

Braiding Sweetgrass

If you want to find out more about the new e-course you can check out our new Learning site for more information:

https://learn.freshexchange.com/

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Companion Planting: What is it? + Planning E-Course is LIVE!

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:00:56 GMT

Companion Planting is probably the thing that makes my garden what you see in the images. It is centuries old and I did not create it, but we can all use it however is best for our gardens. In this episode, I explain what companion planting is. This whole month I will be explaining it in full to you.

If you are interested in learning more or checking out the e-course you can check it out on our new site:

learn.freshexchange.com

To see all the details of the course you can go here:

https://learn.freshexchange.com/garden-planning-with-companion-planting-methods

To just get the tools that include the expanded companion planting chart you can find them here

https://learn.freshexchange.com/ultimate-garden-planning-tools

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Friday Meditation - Putting Pen to Paper

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 11:00:14 GMT

Love the meditations? Our community gets even more of them and journal prompts to go right along with them. You can join the community in spring. Sign up for our newsletter to learn how.

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How to Determine What Garden Size is Right For You

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 11:00:11 GMT

Want to learn more about the e-course? You can subscribe to our email newsletter right here to be the first to know about it.

Want to download the Beginner Garden E-book to get your raised bed design as a beginner? You can find it here.

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Friday Meditation - One Step and Then Another

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 11:00:47 GMT

A cold day on icy terrain has taught me how to handle these fallow periods of life and it sometimes isn't about big things but about the small tiny steps along the way.

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Building the Bones and Structure and Other Thoughts to Begin The Year

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 11:00:54 GMT

We are back to podcasting now that we are into the new year and I am so excited about this year ahead. Sure we are still in some rough stuff lately in the world, but I am seeing that our gardens are how we can build a better future. Listen to the podcast about how this year, I see is a big year for us here at Fresh Exchange and how you play a huge role in it all.

I talk about the power of our lawns you can hear more about this from Doug Tallamy in our podcast interview last year about his book Nature's Best Hope

You also can hear more about I perceive intention setting in a new year and more in this podcast episode as well.

If you are wanting to learn more about what we are doing, be the first to know about our e-course, or learn when you can join the community, subscribe to the newsletter this year!

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Closing Out 2021 + What is Ahead for Fresh Exchange

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Been wondering what is ahead for Fresh Exchange or why you have seen so many changes? I get it...so I am getting honest as we close out this first year of the podcast. A big thank you to all of you for your support this year. It has been so helpful in helping me continue to pursue my passions and dreams in helping teach all of you and connect you with one another. We got more work to do but taking time today to say thank you and cast the rest of the vision for the upcoming year!

You can join the community now through this link.

Listen to my beginning of the podcast episode here.

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Friday Meditation - Shining in the Dark

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 11:00:04 GMT

The last meditation of the year. We will return with meditations again on 1/21/2022, but our Winter community members will begin to get them again earlier on 1/7/2022.

You can join our community beginning on 12/21 through this link!

Join us for unique garden planning events exclusive to our community and seed swapping groups.

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2021 Garden Recap

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 11:00:51 GMT

This episode is my full recap of 2021 in the garden. Everything from my most successful tomato year and how I am handling dead zones in the garden.

Lots and lots of thoughts and ideas in this one to jumpstart your planning for 2022.

Want to join us in the community? The doors open for the season on the 21st. (next week). Learn more here.

Episodes you may also love:

My Favorite Veggies for 2021

My Favorite Flowers for 2021

How to Grow an Herb Garden

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Friday Meditation - In Reflection

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 11:00:16 GMT

This is the time of year to reflect. As our 2nd to last meditation for the year I am excited to encourage you all to reflect and sit back to look at what how we have grown right along with our gardens.

Our Winter Community session opens up on Winter Solstice Dec. 21st. Learn more here.

Join our Moon Cycle Event this month with Randi Kay.

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Simplifying The Holidays Especially As A Parent

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 11:00:07 GMT

It can feel that as parents and individuals living in a world where we see so much of what others are doing that our own experiences are lackluster at best, but I am here to encourage us to think differently when it comes to the holidays and perception. I share honest stories and thoughts about how to make this season more magic with less doing and more awareness of where we are and our own life. I encourage less stress so there is room for more magic. It doesn't have to be complicated to still create memories!

Remember we only have 5 more episodes for the year. We will be rounding out the first year of The Fresh Exchange podcast this year and I am sooo thankful!

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Friday Meditation - Leaning In

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 11:00:53 GMT

When times are trying or when we are in the height of transition, how do we see the beauty, how do we find the magic? That is what we are asking today in the meditation.

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How to Care for Your Chickens This Winter

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 11:12:36 GMT

If you are concerned about how to care for your chickens this winter. This is the episode for you! We go over all the main things you need to know about chicken ownership in the winter months.

Posts to Help:

Best Heated Chicken Waterers

Everything to Know About Backyard chickens

Chicken Podcast with My Chicken Gurus

Best Way to Build a Chicken Coop

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Friday Meditation - In Gratitude

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:00:53 GMT

Join me in giving thanks and to counter a life of consumption. Let's create more gratitude for this time. Let's live with more grace.

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Tips for Eating Close to Home Through the Holidays

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 11:00:43 GMT

I have some easy and quick tips for your holiday season to make note of as you gather around the table this holiday season.

If you want to attend our class with Jeanine of Love and Lemons you can join us here.

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Friday Meditation - Finding Magic

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 11:00:17 GMT

This meditation is all about how I learned to find magic in the everyday things of life. This perspective has served as a grounding part of my life for the last 3 years. This mediation is all about this.

To check out the community head to this page.

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2 Years with 2 Kids in 6 Years - My Story of New Motherhood

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 18:17:41 GMT

This is my full story of becoming a mother from getting pregnant in 2015 at 29 and how I believed I should get back to life as normal when normal had no footing in my life. I talk about the repercussions in my life that lead me to a deep winter of the soul where I rebuilt myself in a whole new way. I discuss what I did differently with my second pregnancy and how it shifted the outcomes I am not able to see and realize 2 years later.

As a kind note, I discuss personal medical things in this episode and though I love hearing from you I ask you to refrain from giving me your personal opinion. I have professionals who guide me incredibly well. But I welcome questions about postpartum and more.

You can check out these items for reference:

My E-book with Postpartum Recipes

My Blog Post about Postpartum

First Forty Days Book

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Friday Meditation - The Ending is The Beginning

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 16:45:45 GMT

A short reflection on the beginning of the end of the fall. Today we discuss how the shifting seasons are an opportunity not just to experience seasons, but to learn from them as well.

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Why History Matters in the Garden

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:18:13 GMT

Understanding the history of the plants that we place in our gardens, is an opening to learn the true history of the world. The history of plants and humans are not easily separated. In fact, their history is aligned since the first human to walk the Earth. This episode is all about encouraging you to get curious as you start ending your garden and thinking of planning your next.

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Friday Meditation - A Living Paradox

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 10:00:00 GMT

A beautiful and wonderful reflection on living within a liminal space as the seasons change.

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How to Handle Seasonal Shifts and Transitions

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 10:00:27 GMT

I have challenged myself slowly and little by little over the last 5 years since moving back to Northern Michigan to learn through our seasonal shifts. The results? I have learned that surviving the challenging parts of life and seasons isn't the only way. We can also use the shifts to thrive and grow in a whole new way. How this happens isn't just that easy though, but with remaining open-minded, trying new things, and simplifying our life we can find a way to ground ourselves and heal through what has felt uncomfortable in the past.

I have talked about these things in many ways before so you can listen to those episodes below as well.

Thriving in Winter and Hard Times

Seasonal Eating: What, How, and Why

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Friday Meditation - Never Pass This Way Again

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:47:49 GMT

One day someone in the community this summer talked about how when we are in a moment it is hard to enjoy something. It got me thinking especially when she said, "what this is what I had longed for and was enough all on its own." That sat with me through this season and I can say without a doubt that this is what I dreamed and I will enjoy it to the fullest. This October has been so special in this time of transition and I hope this meditation reminds you to live into that so you feel this time in your bones wherever this meditation may find you.

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How to Prep Your Garden for Winter

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 10:00:29 GMT

Today I am going to take the stress out of the garden winter prep for you! It is so much easier and less stressful than you may think. So let's do this together.

If you have questions at all! Feel free to DM me on Instagram or you can shoot me an email through our blog.

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Friday Meditation - Learning to Let Go

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:00:25 GMT

Watching the transitions of the seasons has taught me how to approach transitions in life. Observing it all may be the key to learning how to be fully human through the hard and beautiful moments in life.

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My Favorite Veggies and the Ones that Did Me In

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 10:00:09 GMT

Growing squash was hard this year, but I may have learned the trick and much more in today's episode.

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Friday Meditation - The Story in the Leaves

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 10:00:30 GMT

This meditation has been one that has been shaping for years. I had no idea when I started taking photos of a tree on this land we get to care for and tend that she would become such an integral part of our lives. It is powerful to me how plants and landscapes can speak.

Enjoy this meditation my friends and share with those you think would enjoy.

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The Story of My Grandfather - Reflecting on the Past to Help Us Heal

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:00:27 GMT

**** This episode contains a story of loss and may be triggering ****

Today I am sharing a deeply personal story about how the garden has been a place of connection and healing for me. For most of my life, the garden has been the place I felt so incredibly safe and held. After years of working on healing, I have identified why this is. For my early years, my grandfather grew a garden and I spent year after year with him there. Then we lost him quickly to cancer. It shook my world in ways I never knew.

So today I am sharing this story and how by acknowledging the hard things we can find a space to grow and connect. The garden for me reminds me not just of him, but of a space that is safe and comforting. He inspired me to get my hands in the soil and find value in the simplest things, but the garden has also become a space that I hold precious because I can return to those times with him on those warm sunny days.

That said, I used this episode to offer space for you to reflect on the parts of your story that may be hard or challenging but show how we can rebuild them into something beautiful.

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Friday Meditation - The Pruning

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 10:00:16 GMT

You can see the importance of pruning in our gardens. If we observe the rhythm of pruning our plants, we see the clear truth of its gift.

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1 Year with Chickens - What Surprised Me Most

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 10:00:48 GMT

Chickens are an amazing tool for gardeners, but as an amateur owner, what have I learned? The quick answer....A LOT! In this episode hear my honest thoughts on raising chickens in the pandemic.

Other Chicken Podcasts:

Top Tips for Building a Great Coop

Everything You Need to Know About Backyard Chickens

Read all our posts about chickens on the blog

Check out our DIY Chicken Coop Plans

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Friday Meditation - The Shift

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 10:00:58 GMT

The shift of fall is here. Now we begin reflecting and taking an assessment of ourselves just as the trees are doing the same.

Listen to the Setting an Intention for Your Year Podcast.

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Welcoming Fall + What We are Doing In the Community

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:00:18 GMT

Welcome fall as we head into the season of dramatic change and reflection. We are so excited for fall for good reason, but this season is about so many things, which we will be covering this season in the community. Today marks the opening of the community, which will be open for 1 week.

If you are interested you can learn everything and join on the community page of the website.

We hope you will join us this season!

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Friday Meditation - Lessons From The Sunflower

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:00:07 GMT

The bloom fades and a gift is presented that only can be given from the capturing of the sun and wisdom of years and seasons of adaptation. Let the sunflower teach us the road map to living.

Your chance to join the community is nearly here! If you have loved these meditations, our community dives even deeper into these sort of conversations. Extend the season and the experience of learning from our garden and nature by joining. Check out our Community Page to get a look inside and be ready to join when it opens on September 22nd.

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What to Plant in September in the Garden

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 10:00:32 GMT

Simple and sweet...It is not too late to plant in the garden right now. Not at all. Now is the time to get in some of the best of fall with seeds and/or starts. Listen in as Megan shares what is going in the garden and other great info you won't want to miss to even help you prep and plan for next year!

Referenced in the Episode:

What to Plant in September

What to Plant in August

What to Plant in July

Quick tips on Composting Podcast

Next week our community opens for Fall. You can learn more on this page and sign up so you don't miss the chance to be in the community.

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Friday Meditation - In Transition

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:00:15 GMT

I love September, but there is no doubt a lot of transition in this month. Why is this important to note? We chat all about it today in this meditation.

Interested in Joining the Community this Fall? You can sign up to learn more and be the first to know by heading here.

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Harvesting Potatoes + How to Plan for Them In The Spring

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 17:13:21 GMT

Growing potatoes is an incredibly easy and simple thing to do in the garden. I thought for far too long it was something that would be extremely challenging, but it was all far easier than I imagined.

For some quick notes, you can check out this blog post on Harvesting Potatoes.

If you want to order seed potatoes for next year, I suggest using Wood Prairie Family Farm for your seed.

If you are interested in learning more about the community you can find out more here on our website.

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Friday Meditation - The Golden Hour

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 10:00:16 GMT

The first meditation for September to get you started on this final few weeks of summer. How can we reflect on our growth and what can we learn in this process?

Our community opens up September 22nd, see what it is all about. We explore these mediations further every single week there through Journal Prompts and Community Reflection. Learn more about Fresh Exchange Community here.

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Welcoming September - Thoughts on a New Month and Transitions

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:00:20 GMT

September is a month with a lot of transition. We are beginning new things and ending others. Summer is closing and new routines for fall are starting. How can we use this time to grow, learn, and adapt more to being more whole has humans? Hear what I am thinking about as we begin this month.

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Friday Meditation - Preserving the Harvest

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 10:00:09 GMT

When we are offered abundance is there a chance it is more than just a lot of handle? Maybe instead we need a new lens for it. Maybe it can offer something more beautiful than we expected. Maybe an abundance mindset is simply us opening ourselves up to new opportunities.

As always if you desire to dive deeper into these meditative conversations our community heads far deeper with them with journal prompts and zoom conversations. Join our newsletter to learn how to join.

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Composting to Save the Planet...You Got This.

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 10:00:42 GMT

Composting is a powerful tool for making an impact on our emissions that as individuals we can take on. It is less work and takes longer than you may think, but I distill everything in this episode to empower you and get you going!

A few things to note:

This study describes the science behind food waste and methane gas production, which our food waste (much of which is compostable is the 3rd highest emitter of methane greenhouse gases)

A chart on Brown and Green matter and a blog post with more detail on this.

Check out our DIY Compost Bin Tutorial here

Learn more about why we have chickens

Article on Worms and invasive issues ---- Best worms to buy for Vermiculture (worm composting)

Systems for composting if you are wanting to check them out. I highly recommend utilizing the most minimal system possible with the least cost that feels approachable.

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Friday Meditation - The Intangible

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 10:00:34 GMT

What is the one thing you are harvesting this summer that isn't in your garden basket? Do you have something you are learning and processing through the work in your garden or is the garden speaking something to you?

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Learning Imperfection In Our Garden

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 14:51:41 GMT

An honest conversation about growth in imperfection over the years and how the garden may be the exact place we can practice it freely and openly.

Read more today on the blog post all about Imperfection in the Garden.

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Friday Meditation - Dancing In the Light

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 10:00:28 GMT

In August we have a simple choice...we can feel in constant urgency to take it all in or we can slow down so we can truly feel it all.

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Drying Herbs - The Good, The Easy, The Quick, and the Bad

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 10:00:40 GMT

Drying herbs is really simple. There are two ways I highly suggest drying herbs and they both use the simple idea of Low and Slow in order to preserve their flavor and nutrient values. Today in the podcast we discuss why I love drying herbs using this method as well as the one way I would suggest avoiding drying herbs.

Blog Posts I mentioned:

How to Dry Basil with a Dehydrator or the Oven

How to Dry Herbs at Home

Dairy-Free Pesto Recipe that you can Freeze to Preserve Herbs

Other things I mention in the Podcast:

How to Dry Herbs Class with Recipes

Nutriware Dehydrator

More Preservation Recipes

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Friday Meditation - If It Breathes

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:00:08 GMT

Here at the beginning of August how will we celebrate the beauty of this season? How will be live in this height of summer? THis is the question we ask today.

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What to Plant in August in Your Garden

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 10:00:29 GMT

Yes, you read that write you can still plant PLENTY of things in August. Here is a full rundown of the whole list I discuss in this blog post.

What to Plant in August

If you want more info on things to plant in other months in the summer here are other posts as well:

What to Plant in June

What to Plant in July

We will do another at the beginning of September about what to plant in September.

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Friday Meditation - In the Harvest Basket

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 10:00:54 GMT

July is ending and it feels we blinked and it was gone, but this July I tried something new and I discovered that in my harvest basket lies the secret to standing time still for a brief moment.

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The Story of How We Found Our Land

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 10:00:38 GMT

Buying our land in Traverse City was an interesting story that wasn't as clean cut of a story as just a pretty picture on Instagram. It was far more meaningful and beautiful than I could have imagined for us. Since I receive a lot of questions about it, I thought we would have a little story time about it all for you all today. Enjoy this episode. If you want to learn more about things there are links below:

Posts and Things I mention:

The Story of Our Land + Tips on Buying Land

Out Story of Leaving Raleigh

Why We moved Back to Traverse City

A look inside the Studio we built in our Garage in Raleigh

How to Find the Native Land you Reside on.

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Friday Meditation - When it Rains...

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 10:00:48 GMT

In this week's meditation, we are going to learn from the rain about how to let go and how sometimes we are the clouds and sometimes we are the Earth...being human is being aware of our moment to be each depending on the state of our life.

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Ditch the Tomato Cage...For Real!

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 10:00:02 GMT

There are lots of options to support your tomatoes in your garden and they don't involve a tomato cage. Yes, it is true. Sure tomato cages are sold to us as just that...support for our tomatoes but they are really badly named. Instead, they do better for a lot of other plants in our garden, but not tomatoes. So, today I am sharing how I learned a completely new method and why it isn't too late to do the same.

Here are some posts and things I mention in the episode:

My Tomato Cage Alternative Method

How to Prune Tomato Plants

The Best Companion Plants for Tomatoes

Petra from Fruition Seeds sharing how to horizontally plant tomatoes.

JOIN ME in August in how to Save Your Tomatoes without Canning - See the event here ---- $5 for Non-Members and FREE to our Community Members

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Friday Meditation - Gathering A Bouquet

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 10:00:20 GMT

In this week's meditation, we will head into our flower beds and learn just how our flowers offer us an easy lesson in abundance and challenging us to find a deeper connection.

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My Pitch to Grow Garlic + Everything You Need to Know About Garlic

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 10:00:08 GMT

Growing Garlic is one of the easiest and best things to grow as a beginner gardener, but it may seem complicated and also how do you know when to harvest it?!

I got you covered in today's episode. It is all far easier, more fun, and way less work than you may think. Plus the rewards are more than just the bulbs of garlic to keep you healthy this winter...Garlic may be the gardener's best friend.

Read more in today's blog post ---- How to Know When to Harvest Garlic

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Friday Meditation - The Timing of Peas

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 10:00:01 GMT

Today's Friday Meditation is all about peas and the lessons they have taught me this year.

If you want to dive deeper into these meditations...you can join our community this fall by checking out this page on our website.

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Let's Keep the Deer Out of Our Garden This Year

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:53:20 GMT

Keeping Deer out of the garden doesn't have to be hard or a huge fight. Many people ask how I do this so I shared a blog post full of the notes and this episode to help you in naturally deterring deer from your garden. These ideas are natural and don't involve a big fight with nature.

Here is the blog post for you

Here are the Nite Guard Lights I suggest.

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Friday Meditation - The Garden's Conversation

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 10:00:12 GMT

New series of reading and sharing our weekly meditations our community enjoys on an even deeper level. We will be sharing these meditations now every Friday for your weekend.

If you want to dive deeper with our community you are welcome to check in on one of our upcoming events here.

You can join our email newsletter as well to know when the next opening for the community is this Fall.

If you are already a member of the community you can read this and receive the journal prompts on the "From Megan" section on the community platform.

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Finding Community Through the Field with Loma Farm

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 10:00:13 GMT

I have been lucky enough to connect and sit around many tables with Sara and Nic Theisen of Loma Farm and Farm Club so I knew when many of you asked to hear from them how wonderful and inspiring this conversation would be. The realities of being a farmer are always fascinating to me but being someone who has helped for a very very short stint one summer on their farm, I knew that Sara and Nic had built a special place at Loma. The community they have built from the ground up after moving from Colorado to Leelanau County, Michigan has been incredible to both participate in but to also witness as well.

Now they and their partners in the business Gary and Allison Jonas (also dear friends who also created popular Little Fleet) have launched a community-centered gathering place of food and drink that is literally nestled amongst some of the fields of Loma Farm. Launched during the heart of the pandemic it was one of the most beautiful and hopeful expressions in our community during a challenging time. It now is one of the hottest places to hang out in Traverse City and Leelanau County, but it isn't just because it is beautiful...there is a real sense of connection and community that is clear through what they have built.

This interview shows what it takes to build something out of passion, community, and hard work. To me, this interview connects why we need connection and how much it can change everything.

Learn more about Sara and Nic of Loma Farm below:

A Great Article about Loma Farm

If you loved this interview make sure to Subscribe to support us in getting more interviews and conversations like this on the podcast.

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Living in Abundance - Our Summer Community Launch

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 10:00:37 GMT

This week our summer community is open and ready for you to join. If you have been thinking about it, today in the episode I offer up the vision for what we will be doing in our community, why this community means so much to me, and some highlights of the upcoming season as well as the ways it is deeply impacted me.

You can learn more and join here on our website: https://freshexchange.com/join/

If you just want to check out our event offerings for summer here are the events and all the details:

Cooking Live with Anna Watson Carl of The Yellow Table - July 8th, 12 PM (Lunch) EST

Preserving the Abundance - How Megan Saves Tomatoes - No Canning Required + Recipes for Download --- August 18th, 8 PM EST

Preserving the Abundance - How to Dry and Save Herbs + Recipes for Download ---- September 10th, 7:30 PM EST

We cannot wait to have you join us for any of these events or even in the community!

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Reimagining Breakfast with Seven Sundays

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:32:16 GMT

What began for husband-wife duo Hannah and Brady as a quest to recreate New Zealand-style muesli inspired by their honeymoon travels morphed into a mission to clean up the overly-processed cereal aisle back home in the US. Seven Sundays' humble roots began by selling muesli at the local farmers' market, and today you'll find their muesli and the new Sunflower Cereal in retailers like Whole Foods, Target, and Costco.

Along the way, Seven Sundays is working to build a better food system from the ground up: one that works in harmony with nature and benefits all: from the farmers that grow it to the people who eat it, and everyone in between. By reconnecting people with real food in the morning, they are hoping to inspire the feeling of Sunday every day of the week.

To find out more about Seven Sundays' products head to their website or learn more about them on Instagram.

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The Very Best Tomato Companion Plants + Why You Will Love Companion Planting

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 10:00:18 GMT

Have you tried companion planting? If not today you are going to learn everything about it why Tomatoes are my favorite plant to play with companion planting. They are so fun to use these methods on and I promise you will enjoy it.

Check out this blog post I wrote all about the best tomato companion plants to use in your garden.

OUR COMMUNITY OPENS JUNE 20th for Summer. Get all the info below.

Memberships can be purchased per season at $50 per season or for $160 for all four seasons, which saves $40 a year (nearly a whole season for free!).

To find out more info about the community you can head here to see slides discussing it all.

You can sign up to join the waitlist to hear more by signing up for our FREE newsletter.

If you have questions about the community please direct them to our community specific email: community@freshexchange.com

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Top Tips for Building the Best Chicken Coop - The Real Things You Need to Know!

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 10:00:57 GMT

I am detailing EVERYTHING to know about building a chicken coop and the realities that may surprise you. I spent a lot of time doing the research before we purchased our hens. I had been researching for years. We then created a design for the coop with my dad who is a licensed contractor to plan and layout and then to build last year.

Enjoy all the details and use the blog posts below to help get the breakdown of all my tips to inspire your chicken coop ideas as you design and build your own coop.

Blog Posts I Referenced:

How to Build The Best Chicken Coop

Everything to Know About Backyard Chickens

What You Need for Baby Chicks

You can purchase our plans and see more about our coop. My father helped us design these and drew them as a licensed contractor. The plans include the measurements and the drawings along with the material list.

The automatic door I am raving about from Omlet.

Find out how you can join our community! The doors open June 20th till June 27th. I hope you all join us for the season or the year!

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Motherhood, Self Care, and the Journey of Healing with Randi Kay

Wed, 26 May 2021 10:00:38 GMT

Dive deep into an honest conversation with Randi Kay of Naturally Randi Kay as she and I discuss the realities of the pressures on mothers postpartum, the rhythm of healing, and how to create a positive structure to self-care that involves healthy rituals amongst the things we already are doing. We are really honest about our shortcomings and how messaging is highly effective in not-so-good ways. We discuss social media and even tie it all back into the garden of course. It's a fun and exciting podcast full of wisdom from Randi.

Randi's story and journey as a new mom is so important and honest because she is a Holistic Health Practitioner and Educator who specializes in women’s health and abdominal care, Randi serves women in Fargo, ND. Her work helps to offer women how to simplify the healing journey by amplifying their own inner wisdom through seasonal healing, body awareness, and intentional living. She recently launched an online community, The Healing Season, to offer a safe space to explore uniting cyclical living to the healing process. She is the creator of the Simple Self Care Podcast.

You can listen to the podcast I did 3 years ago with Randi here on her podcast.

Ways to Connect with Randi:

Her Website

Join her Community

Follow in Instagram

Randi's next Community opening for the Summer Healing Season is in June. Don't miss the chance to learn and heal alongside her and other amazing women.

You can find more on the blog with some quick tips for self-care ideas we shared in the podcast.

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Grow an Herb Garden - SERIOUSLY - Here is Why!

Wed, 19 May 2021 10:00:45 GMT

An herb garden is one of the simplest and most rewarding gardens to grow and you can actually grow one and feel super confident about it! It is simpler and easier than you would think. No matter your skill level or the space you have an herb garden is an option for you! I am a huge fan of herbs and have been for so long. Below I detail everything you need to know about growing it successfully, herbs to grow in your garden, and most importantly why an herb garden is the best garden to grow!

If you want more info and the details from this post you can head to the blog post. All the links I mention are there!

How to Actually Grow a Kitchen Herb Garden Confidently

Thank you for listening to Fresh Exchange's podcast where we talk about connecting and grounding ourselves to seasonal rhythms, simple gardening techniques, and curiosities on becoming more connected to ourselves through nature.

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

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See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

If you want to follow more of Fresh Exchange you can sign up for the FREE newsletter right here. You will receive a weekly, monthly, and seasonal email to meander your way through intentional living with the cyclical rhythms of nature.

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Native Plants - A Powerful Tool For Change with Doug Tallamy

Wed, 12 May 2021 10:00:06 GMT

When we talk about our current climate crisis and the decline in biodiversity it can feel so heavy and impossible, but when I started digging into Doug Tallamy's books about how we can reverse what we are currently seeing by focusing more of our yards on Native Plantings and less on growing a lawn....A weight was lifted. Since then I have become impassioned about native plants. How we can add more and how to build a stronger future with less work by putting more of these plants in the ground today.

That said, I feel so thankful we were able to sit down and have this conversation with Doug Tallamy who is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 104 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. Doug's knowledge about the importance and the impact we can make with just a few changes to what we choose for our yard is powerful, approachable, and achievable.

Learn more and dive in through the links below.

Doug's Books:

Nature's Best Hope

Bringing Nature Home

The Nature of Oaks

Join the Homegrown National Park movement

Read more about resources to help you navigate finding out about Native Plants on the Blog.

Follow Homegrown National Park and get great advice from Doug on Instagram

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Everything You May Want to Know About Backyard Chickens

Wed, 05 May 2021 10:00:29 GMT

Backyard Chickens have become so common during the pandemic. 2020 saw a huge spike in families deciding to get chickens, building coops and more. Mike and I joined the masses and added 13 chickens to our land last year and spent our summer building a huge coop. Needless to say, we learned a lot, but I didn't learn any of it without the help of my friends, so I brought on the two women I share a "chicken" text chain with to share hilarious stories, real truths about backyard chickens, and more.

If you want to learn more about backyard chickens and get some highlights from this episode you can head to the blog and read the post all about our chickens and you can watch this Coop IGTV for more info as well on building our coop.

Next month we will be releasing coop plans for purchase and doing a full coop tour so you can see inside around and more. You can also hear the truths and tips we learned in an upcoming episode as well.

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Sustainability and Wild Leeks (Ramps)

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 10:00:54 GMT

If there is a contentious conversation in the spring outside of the normal issues in our current world it is the conversation about Wild Leeks or Ramps. Every year I am learning new things and then this year I started realizing how many differing ideologies were out there about these plants. I wanted to dig into it with someone who has WAY more experience than me to answer some of my burning questions and help me learn more.

If you don't know about Wild Leeks or Ramps, they are a member of the Garlic family and are some of the first plants to emerge in the woods in the northern parts of the North America. They are really unique and special plants in how they grow and function, but our knowledge about their nature and more is still VERY much being researched. The number of studies on them are still in process so how do we proceed as we see these cover the tables at Farmer's Markets and placed on menues at restaurants.

Every plant we consume has a sustainability to it. Understanding them all can feel really intense, but some we need to care about more. Most plants their sustainability comes down to farming practices, but wild foods have a whole new layer to them. Is it sustainable to place these on a commercial level? Is personal use okay? There are many questions and for most wild foods or even invasive plants the answers are more clear on these answers, but with Ramps well we got some digging to do (not literally!)

So I brought on Timothy Young who is the now-retired founder, of Food For Thought, Inc., creators of organic and wild-harvested gourmet specialty foods here in Traverse City, Michigan. Timothy has an extensive background in travel and human relief work in the developing world inspired which Timothy’s creation of Food For Thought in 1995 with the mission of creating and raising awareness around just and sustainable food systems. In addition to creating exciting products from the farms and forest of northern Michigan, Young has a long history of humanitarian activism on a range of issues, including farmland preservation both here and abroad. A past president of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council and former Vice-Chair of the Michigan Land Use Institute.

Currently, Timothy has placed his own land that was used for wild foraging in his company into a restoration mode in order to accommodate studies being done with the FDA, Native American Nations, and Universities to establish the best practices for the sustainability of our wild leek populations in order to preserve their precious position in our eco system.

We answer all the burning questions and start to unpack just how complicated these plants really are and how to respectfully form a bond and relationship with them as humans.

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Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration with We The People Opportunity Farm

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 10:00:14 GMT

Today we sit down with Melvin Parson of We The People Opportunity Farm located in Washtenaw County, Michigan just outside of Detroit. Together Melvin and Megan discuss the story that put into motion a Non-Profit focused on helping give new opportunities and break the cycle of incarceration through farming and healing land connection. Melvin personally has experienced the cycle of incarceration and with the help of others was able to set a new path for himself. Today we hear his story and discuss the challenges within black communities facing these issues as well as how heavy the land and human connection can be.

You can learn even more about what Melvin is doing and how you can participate or learn more through the links below:

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Q&A with Elana Jadallah

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:00:37 GMT

We are finishing off this week with a quick little extra for you all. We did a quick Q&A with Elana Jadallah of Elanaloo on some of her top tips for Lowering our Waste and Plastic Use. Elana is candid and open about her challenges and where they still lie and how we can handle these things.

She mentions her Sustainable Living Check List so we linked it here for you.

You can follow Elana on Instagram or on her website. She also recently released a gorgeous set of photo presets!

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Diving Deep on Plastic Waste and Sustainability with Elana Jadallah

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 10:00:12 GMT

This week we are sitting down with Elana Jadallah of Elanaloo. Elana shifted her business years back when she had a profound first hand experience on the ocean coast of Hawai'i. Since then that moment pivoted not just her personal life but her business as well. We talk about simple ways that changes in what we buy, how we spend our money, the money we don't spend, and so much more not only can make a difference but how we are seeing the changes come. This conversation is all about empowerment that our changes even if small can be huge. Yes it is true. Below you will find a list of blog posts and more to help you navigate or begin your own journey.

Great Blog Posts for Your Sustainable Pursuits from Elana:

Sustainable Living on a Budget...Yes it is possible.

Elana's Favorite Ethical Clothing Brands

Elana's Favorite Environmental Documentaries

Elana's Top Low Waste Bathroom Essentials

Elana's Sustainable Period Product Picks

Reef Safe Sunscreen Top Picks

Elana's Sustainable Living Starter Guide

See the Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean First Hand:

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

https://oceana.org/blog/3-misconceptions-about-great-pacific-garbage-patch

The man who swam the garbage patch: https://www.instagram.com/thevortexswim/

You can follow Elana on Instagram or on her website. She also recently released a gorgeous set of photo presets!

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Why You Need to Plant a Garden with Your Kids This Year

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 10:00:18 GMT

In today's podcast episode, I have gathered up a list of all the reasons that as modern parents why we need the garden more than ever and so do our children. We sit and discuss how to set our expectations of creating a garden with our kids and how I have discovered what may be the root of why a garden may be the most powerful tool we can have in parenting and raising children.

As our first in our Earth Month episodes, this episode sets the tone of how to leave a legacy of impact on the Earth in the way of our children. The garden is our secret weapon to raise Earth-loving, grateful, empathetic, and self-assured children. All you need is a few pots to grow things. Let's do this.

Want a little more research? Here you are!

How A Garden Affects our Children's Brains, Bodies, and Souls

What Children Learn when Gardening

How Garden Build Healthier and Happier Children

Why Gardening Makes you Happy?

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

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You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Where Do We Begin Our Garden?

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 10:00:24 GMT

Beginning a garden is exciting! We want to think about all the ways it will look and feel in August. We all feel SO ready to get out and enjoy nature, BUT before we begin let's make sure we begin on the right foot. Today in this episode I will be sharing my top things to think about when choosing where to place your garden AND whether to go in-ground or raised beds or even containers. It's a lot to think about, but I help with some quick ideas as well as discussing how I personally have navigated and learned about these things myself.

Here is everything I reference in the podcast and a little more to help you in deciding how to begin.

Beginner Gardening E-book where I share all of this and MORE!

Top Tips for Beginner Gardeners

Soil Layering in Your Raised Beds

No-Till Method Information

Hardiness Zone Finder

DIY Fence

First Garden - What to Grow and When to Start

A Quick Guide to Soil

Everything About Our Raised Beds

What is Phenology

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

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See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Garden Tour: Kalin Sheick of Sweetwater Floral

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 10:00:56 GMT

I am so excited today to welcome Kalin Sheick of Sweetwater Floral in Petoskey, Michigan to the podcast today. You know I am all about the veggies around here, but I also don't think any veggie patch is complete without flowers! I have learned so much from Kalin over the last few years and she is always inspiring me with her designs and approach to life. So I was so happy to sit down and talk since we haven't seen each other to discuss life in quite a while! Really since this dinner a few springs back. Crazy!!! So you can listen to our podcast here.

To get to know Kalin a little more before we jump into our interview, Kalin is an award-winning floral designer based in Northern Michigan. She + her team flower for an average of 60 weddings a summer from their home studio in Petoskey. She is passionate about teaching people the joy flowers can bring into their lives through varied outlets. Whether growing a small garden, arranging at home with a Sweetwater Collection, or attending a workshop - learning to work with flowers for fun is the ultimate form of self-care. When she's not flowering she lives at a tiny 10-acre dream farm with her husband, kids, dogs & a lot of unpicked weeds. Let's jump in and hear more from her today!

If you loved this learning from Kalin today make sure you follow along with what she does and offers. She is such a delight. So check out the links below for more info!

Sweetwater Floral Website

Sweetwater Floral Workshops

Sweetwater Floral Collections

Sweetwater Floral Instagram

Sweetwater Floral Memberships

To find out more info about the community you can head here to see slides discussing it all.

You can sign up to join the waitlist to hear more by signing up for our FREE newsletter.

If you have questions about the community please direct them to our community-specific email: community@freshexchange.com

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Why I am Building a Community and What to Expect

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 10:00:15 GMT

This episode is slightly different than our others because something really exciting is happening this Saturday. The doors to our Fresh Exchange Community are opening for one week just before we kick into the Spring season and I brought on my partner in life and business, Mike Gilger to tell you everything about it with me. We have been working away on building out this space together and it has been a very exciting and challenging project but one we are so very pumped to get this out into the world for you all.

In this episode Mike and I talk about why we made this decision to start it and we talk about what revealed itself through this last year. We also discuss the top features we are most excited about.

The community will have 4 windows where you can sign up and they are as follows:

Spring - This Saturday March 20th - 27th

Summer - June 20th - 27th

Fall -

Winter -

Memberships can be purchased per season at $50 per season or for $160 for all four seasons, which saves $40 a year (nearly a whole season for free!).

To find out more info about the community you can head here to see slides discussing it all.

You can sign up to join the waitlist to hear more by signing up for our FREE newsletter.

If you have questions about the community please direct them to our community specific email: community@freshexchange.com

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Local Eating: An Interview With Andrea Bemis

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 11:00:10 GMT

When the pandemic began in March 2020, the very backbone of the food industry was laid bare to the world and many of us discovered how to source food locally. But as we begin to see the bright light of the end of the pandemic, can we continue these ideas into our routines? How do we make Local Eating a normal thing? How do we learn to eat this way? Most of all how do we even begin this process on a larger scale sustainably?

Today, Megan Gilger sits down with Andrea Bemis who is a farmer with her husband at Tumbleweed Farm in Hood River, Oregon who began the Local Thirty challenge. She has written two cookbooks Dishing up the Dirt and Local Dirt all about seasonal and local eating. On top of that, she also creates recipes near-weekly on her blog, Dishing up the Dirt that celebrates local and seasonal eating habits. During the Local Thirty, Andrea worked with a team of filmmakers to create a gorgeous documentary about our food system and the pursuit for a life focused on supplying our food closer to home.

Andrea describes to us how Local eating is about community eating. A beautiful sentiment that carries through as Megan and Andrea share how local eating is far more affordable and accessible than we have been made to believe. There is so much discussed to help you navigate how local eating can become a sustainable thing for you in your life.

You can find more about Andrea and her work in pursuing local and community-focused food chains through all the links below.

Next week Megan and Mike Gilger will sit down to talk through why Fresh Exchange is launching a community and how it has unfolded. Get all the details on our community and how to join next week with the beginning of Spring.

Learn more about Andrea Bemis:

Tumbleweed Farm

Dishing Up the Dirt - Blog

Dishing Up the Dirt - Cookbook

Local Dirt - Cookbook

Local Thirty Challenge

Local Thirty Documentary

Andrea's Instagram

Andrea's Recipes

Blog Posts to Reference:

5 Simple and Affordable to Start Eating Local

What is a CSA?

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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How Does Seed Starting Connect us to the Natural World?

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 11:00:33 GMT

Happy March! As we end winter this month, I wanted to kick off with discussing the opening of our brand new Fresh Exchange community where we will be focused on growing together as our garden grow through the seasons. In this episode we kick it off by discussing everything you need to know about our community as well as HOW to WIN one of 3 Annual Memberships to the community (a value of $160).

We will discuss the community every week this month before it launches so keep an ear out for more updates and how to get first entrance to this space as well as what events will be offered.

In the rest of the episode I work through why seed starting is not just a check list of items we must do to grow a successful garden. That checklist is located on the blog today, but this podcast gives you a deeper dive into why seed starting is more than just saving some money and being in control of what you are able to grow in your garden.

I leave you in this episode with some big questions and insights into why getting your hands in the soil as we wade through the end of winter, may be one of the most powerful forms of self-care I know of.

I read this excerpt from Mary Oliver's Upstream: Selected Essays if you would like the reference the text I read in the episode:

"Now in the spring I kneel, I put my face into the packets of violets, the dampness, the freshness, the sense of ever-ness. Something is wrong, I know it, if I don't keep my attention to eternity. May I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful. May I stay forever in the stream. May I look down upon the windflower and the bull thistle and the coreopsis with the greatest respect.

Teach the children. We don't matter so much, but the children do. Show them daisies and the pale hepatica. Teach them the taste of sassafras and wintergreen. The lives of the blue sailors, mallow, sunbursts, the moccasin flowers. And the frisky ones -- inkberry, lamb's-quarters, blueberries. And the aromatic ones -- rosemary, oregano. Give them peppermint to put in their pockets as they go to school. Give them the fields and the woods and the possibility of the world salvaged from the lords of profit. Stand them in the stream, head them upstream, rejoice as they learn to love this green space they live in, its sticks and leaves and then the silent, beautiful blossoms.

Attention is the beginning of devotion."

Next week we will welcome Andrea Bemis of Dishing Up the Dirt and Tumbleweed Farm to the podcast!

Post and Websites Referenced:

Buying Seeds - Fresh Exchange

How to Start Seeds Indoors - Fresh Exchange

Seed Starting Chart Organizer

Watch How I Start Seeds Indoors - Youtube Fresh Exchange

Books I suggest right now:

Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Win an Annual Membership by joining our email subscription.

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Garden Tour Interview: Kelsey Johnston of My Simply Simple

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 11:00:18 GMT

In this Garden Tour Interview we have Kelsey Johnston who manages the lifestyle blog, My Simply Simple, where she shares about motherhood, the pursuit of a simple and eco life, and various tips on living minimally and intentionally. Kelsey is a wealth of information about building a life of sustainability through minimalism and intention. She and her husband and young daughter, live on 8.5 acres in Rural Indiana and we discuss what are some of the very real things about choosing a more rural life and as a little hint it is one of the reasons she started her garden, which we also discuss on how she approaches it as well as what is ahead this year. This is without a doubt a fun and easy conversation to digest as you begin thinking through setting intentions for your garden and life in this new year.

To see Kelsey's gorgeous garden is featured today on the blog via the Garden Tour Series.

You can find out more about Kelsey below:

Kelsey's Website

Tour Kelsey's Modern Farmhouse

Read Kelsey's 2020 Garden Recap

Kelsey's Instagram

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Seasonal Eating - What, Why, and How

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 11:00:26 GMT

On today's episode we discuss the topic of Seasonal Eating. The first of many episodes where we will talk about the ways we can connect deeper to nature through our diet. Though this is a BIG topic we are beginning by just discussing what Seasonal Eating, why we should know about it, and how even as parents we can take steps towards this becoming more and more apart of our day-to-day life.

We also chat about how to begin the process of Seasonal Eating. It may surprise you but it isn't about shifting your whole diet. Instead we talk about a judgement-free way to start this process and it begins with observation, curiosity, and awareness before we make any move in any direction.

This topic to me is one of the most powerful pieces in the puzzle of climate change and I believe without a doubt we can be effecting our climate in the largest way through how we eat and the picture begins with seasonal and local eating. Even one shift in our yearly rhythms of eating could have an effect!

Listen more today and to the questions I ask from our community at the end of the episode as we address things like Organic or Local and How to be successful with this even in a small space or city.

Post and Websites Referenced:

Seasonal Eating - Fresh Exchange

What is a CSA - Fresh Exchange

Local Harvest

Seasonal Food Guide

How it Grows - Youtube Channel

More info on Carbon Drawdowns and Carbon release with Tilling land for monoculture crops

Books I suggest right now:

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Garden Tour Interview: Megan Stubbs

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:00:14 GMT

In the first edition of our Garden Tour Interviews we have Megan Stubbs who is a professional sexologist and certified body image expert. Megan writes for many well known publications such as Cosmopolitan and Teen Vogue along with many others, but when not working Megan has an incredible garden in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan where she grows incredible things including lemon trees, hibiscus plants, and more. So today we chat about how to get inspired to grow while also discussing sexual stigmas and identities of self that the garden gives us notes on how to reframe.

To see Megan's gorgeous garden you can see it in our Garden Series on the blog.

You can find out more about Megan below:

Megan's Website

Megan's New Book

Megan's Instagram

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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Thriving in Winter and Hard Times

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 11:00:30 GMT

I was born and raised amongst the winter and experiencing them challenged me so much that when I became older I ran from Winter. The challenges were too uncomfortable. I didn't want to embrace it.

Today on the podcast we are jumping deeper into how winter is our opportunity to learn how to thrive in hard times. I share what I have learned from running from winters and coming back to them because I craved them. The ways they have taught our family resilience and brought grounding to our years.

I promise today that when you leave you will find a new appreciation for this season and a new way to thrive when it feels sometimes we are simply holding our breathe in hopes that we survive.

You can read more on the blog in this post:

Thriving in Winter and Hard Times - Fresh Exchange

Books I suggest right now:

Wintering by Katherine May

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

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My 2020 Garden Recap and Looking Toward 2021

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 11:00:54 GMT

The long awaited 2020 garden recap is here! In today's episode on Fresh Exchange we will be recapping the last year in our garden in the midst of a pandemic. We fell for the bigger garden and build a chicken coop trends of 2020 and I am here to share everything I learned through the process.

We begin the episode discussing seed shortages and I suggest checking out this blog post if you would like more info on it and what to expect but as a quick note. If you are beginner don't feel rushed to buy seeds and in fact I suggest buying them from local nurseries and farms instead this year just to take the load off if you can. Then for advanced gardeners it is best to buy what you need solely. Don't get to excited and start hoarding seeds.

Lastly I suggest looking into seed exchanges. We will be offering a section of our community that will focus on this, but there are plenty of options to help you find seeds. Scarcity shouldn't cause fear in us, just to be identified as an opportunity instead to make a connection to others who we can learn from. Living in a mindset of abundance is a much more gratifying way to perceive our life.

Getting into the meat of the garden recap, we talk about garden journals and how I perceive them when it comes to my garden. Another thing we will be covering in our community site beginning in March and I will touch on within an episode here as well.

I then disclose everything we tackled, what surprised me, what I learned, and the biggest failures I had.

We head into the plan for 2021 and talk about what my main plan is and then eventually finish up by discussing HOW I plan my garden and though it sounds super calculated you may be surprised by the way I perceive the garden planning process.

Next week we will dive deep into how I thrive in a season that takes me far from the garden and how winter is the season I have learned is less about surviving and more about healing and coming home. Yes! This means I will teach you how to actually live really well in winter. It is easier than you may believe.

See you out there friends!

Blog Posts Referenced:

How to build a up a soil bed

How to fill a raised bed box

All About our Steel Raised Beds

My 2020 Garden Recap

Reading suggestions:

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Visit my Pinterest page for ideas to help with Companion Planting and Guilds

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intentionally Approaching an Unpredictable Year

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:00:14 GMT

We begin today's first podcast by asking you to breathe! Just to take a few breathes. The beginning of this year hasn't been easy. My gosh has it not. But did we really believe that when 2021 arrived at our door everything that hung within 2020 would simply disappear? No. We knew better.

That said, before we dive into the conversation about approaching intentions this year. I want to to identify where we are right now in our world. Not just in terms of the weather out the window, though if you need that you can have that with this conversation, but instead I want to discuss the cultural season we are in right now. We currently are enduring a hard winter in our culture and most likely you may be experiencing a hard winter of the soul as well.

We discuss together what it means to experience winter in a culture and how nature teaches us everything we must know about the hard times we may face right now. I discuss lessons I have learned from the years of living in the north and even what I learned about running from winters.

The importance of this is key when we dive into this podcast because we cannot set intentions without understanding where we are beginning.

And when I say intentions, I do not mean goals. Instead, I am talking about the undercurrent we place to our year that gives us permission to arrive at our deepest longing and desires.

Maybe you thought we would be discussing the garden in the episode and though we will next week, this week we must begin with setting these intentions and I explain why this contributes to how I personally plan and work in my garden.

So how do we set that intention particularly in a year when it feels there is nothing we can count on? How do we do this when we are weary?

Jump in today to learn just how I do this and the key question I ask, which seems simple but I promise the answer isn't that easy.

My goal is by the time we end these 25 minutes in today's podcast that you feel a sense of grounding, purpose, direction, and even realize space you didn't even know you had.

Books I suggest right now:

Wintering by Katherine May

Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

Follow Megan on the Fresh Exchange blog

Follow along on Instagram

See what Megan is loving right now on Pinterest

You can find Fresh Exchange's Beginner Garden E-book and a plan for A Simple Raised Bed Garden right here in the online store.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing: Fresh Exchange

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 18:27:42 GMT

Welcome to the Fresh Exchange podcast!

Every week I will discuss topics that range from my own gardening experiences and things I am learning to how I work with seasonal rhythms to connect the dots of life experiences and we will even chat about parenting at times as well. Some weeks I will bring in amazing guests who inspire and challenge me as I ask questions to learn from them myself in hopes that by sharing our conversation we connect through a similar curiosity.

My goal is that together we will lean into these conversations to learn and grow in our pursuit of coming home to our selves in nature.

My hope is these conversations inspire you to find a sense of grounding, purpose, humility, and growth in all sorts of new ways.

If you are excited about this and ready to head out on this adventure with me go ahead and subscribe!

I cannot wait to learn and connect together here!

Sign up for our email newsletter to keep up to date on episodes: freshexchange.com/subscribe

Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/freshexchange

Read the blog for more content: freshexchange.com

See you out there friends!

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